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Non-allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia are diseases that cause very similar symptoms. That means that sufferers have a hard time telling which one they have. But with a little bit of information, you can decide if your symptoms are the result of rhinitis or fibromyalgia.
What is non-allergic rhinitis?
Non-allergic rhinitis is a disorder that causes your body to produce the symptoms of an allergic reaction without exposure to actual allergens. Most people with allergies are familiar with the symptoms of allergic reactions such as a stuffy nose or watery eyes. But non-allergic rhinitis causes people to develop these symptoms spontaneously.
Symptoms of non-allergic rhinitis are a stuffy or a runny nose, watery eyes, and frequent sneezing. Your body’s immune system is usually responsible for these symptoms. But people with non-allergic rhinitis do not actually have their immune system triggered.
That means that people with non-allergic rhinitis find their symptoms are year-long. The constant symptoms make living with non-allergic rhinitis difficult. And there is no good way to treat it. No one knows what causes non-allergic rhinitis. It is currently something of a medical mystery.
How is it different from fibromyalgia?
Non-allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia are similar in many ways. They are both conditions that mimic the body’s immune response without any obvious cause. And doctors know little about both conditions.
The biggest difference between non-allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia is that non-allergic rhinitis causes nasal and sinus problems. On the other hand, fibromyalgia causes aches and pains around your entire body.
Fibromyalgia also causes long-lasting fatigue. So non-allergic rhinitis feels like having constant allergies. But fibromyalgia is more like having a constant cold.
Non-allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia often causes sinus problems. In fact, persistent problems with your sinuses are an early warning sign of fibromyalgia. Non-allergic rhinitis also causes problems with your sinuses.
That makes it hard to tell the difference between non-allergic rhinitis and fibromyalgia. They both cause similar nasal symptoms. But there is a simple way to tell the difference between the conditions.
Fibromyalgia causes pain around your entire body. The pain is especially severe in eighteen points located around your body. Doctors use these eighteen points to diagnose fibromyalgia. On the other hand, non-allergic rhinitis does not cause this kind of general pain.
The easiest way to tell the difference is to ask if your body hurts or you just have nasal problems. If your body hurts, you probably have fibromyalgia. If the problem is exclusively located in your nose but you aren’t exposed to allergies, then you probably have non-allergic rhinitis.
With either condition, the important thing is to speak to a doctor. Doctors will be able to offer a diagnosis and give you options to help manage either condition. And remember that though there is no cure for either condition, it’s still possible to live a full life.
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